The foliage becomes increasingly thicker and lush. The grass reaches my knees, tree branches obscuring my sight. We walk for around ten minutes before we come to a rock formation that stretches into another, higher peak. There is less vegetation around, the stone gray and forlorn. Vines climb up the rock, twining together and forming something akin to a V-shaped vault. A few dots of color surface through the combination of dark brown and green, a stark contrast to the tepid gray of the rock.

As we get closer, I notice some carvings in the stone in the shape of the dragon-turtle, ensconced by grass and vines and making them barely visible.

A beaming smile stretches across Thea's face as she dashes forward.

"It's here!" she exclaims.

I trail behind, frowning as I don't realize what she's pointing to. Aside from the beautiful vines adorning the mountain, there's nothing else.

"Where?"

She doesn't acknowledge my question as she walks farther until she's in front of the rock. Reaching forward, her hand passes right through the stone, disappearing within it.

What...

Well, that certainly is unlike any portal I've seen in TV shows.

"Come on." She beckons to us. Without waiting, she walks straight into the rock, disappearing from sight.

If up until now I could have somehow logically explained away some events, this is beyond my capabilities.

She just passed through stone!

Cer is next, following closely after Thea.

That leaves only me and Ze. And while I have no doubt there's something at the other end, I'm still a little apprehensive about stepping into the literal unknown.

"What are you waiting for?" Ze barks out from behind me.

"Does it hurt?" I blurt the question out loud.

Thea and Cer left so quickly I haven't even gotten the opportunity to ask some questions, get a little more used to the thought of crossing into another world, or even the mere action of walking into a wall of stone. Some additional mental preparation would not have hurt.

"What? Of course not," he huffs out loud. "It's just a doorway."

"It doesn't look like one," I mutter under my breath as I walk a little closer. I study the rock and the vines, tentatively stretching my arm to touch them. But my courage seems to be in limited supply as I chicken out just as I'm about to make contact.

Mr. Impatience doesn't like that, and instead of helping me ease into it, he simply sweeps me into his arms and walks forward.

Straight into the rock.

My eyes snap shut as I grab onto him with all my might, holding my breath as I prepare for the worst. So far, I've been a good sport, but I don't know why the prospect of going into another world terrifies me so much.

"You can open your eyes." Ze's voice rings out not even a minute after.